Jekyll breaking ground on overdue convention hotel

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. (AP) - Developers are set to start construction on a new convention hotel for Jekyll Island after long delays that largely resulted from difficulties getting a bank loan for the $41 million project.

Members of the state park's governing board were scheduled attend a ground-breaking ceremony Monday for the 200-room Westin hotel. It's a key piece of the Jekyll Island Authority's plans to turn around years of sagging tourism and convention business. A new convention center that opened a year ago and other improvements cost Georgia taxpayers $50 million.

Meeting planners have complained about the delays in building the convention hotels. Jekyll Island officials last fall agreed to put up about $6 million to help the private hotel developer qualify for financing.